Automatic train control.



G. H, GOODPASTURE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1914.

1,1 1 6,055. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

WITNESSES 24/ V5 N TOR my WM .4 TTOR/VEYS THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D a

G. H. GOODPASTURE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1914 1 1 1 ,055, Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r I 1 l I l l l l J Q1 2; @g 24 I @K 14 I I By M5 NORM THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOLITHOH WASHING ION, D. C.

, matic means for prevent ngeither front or I madeof any suitable materials, and the rela-' UNITED STATEST OFFICE. 1

CHARLES HENRY eoonrnsrunn, or OLYMPIA, wnsiirne'ron.

- AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Thurston and State of l/vashington, have invented a new and" Improved Automatic;

Train Control, of which the. following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to railway appliances and has particular reference to auto rear head-on collisions onsingle tracks.

Among the objects of the invention more definitely stated is to provide a roadway with a continuous series of signals arranged in pairs, the signalsof each pair being on opposite sides of the railway trackand spaced at a distance equivalent to two blocks, the signals of the next pair being arranged to lap over or break joints with the preceding pair, whereby I provide a reliable interlocking block signal system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means controlled by the settingofthe signals for the automatic control of the running of the train, such control means being operative to stop a train coming in either direction, and thus preventing a block in which a train is .running'frombeing entered by another train. c I The foregoing and other objectsof the 1nvention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which likecharacters ofref'erence indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is aplan view indicating'a series 1 of blocks with associated signal and controlling devices;-Fig. 2 is a vertical'transverse section on the line 22 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail-on the line 3+3 of Figi l; Fig. 4 is avertical sectional: detail of a modified form of rail and actuating devices jand Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection on;

the line 55 of Fig.

The several parts of the device may be from the spirit of the invention hereinafter more fully set forth andspecifically claimed. Referring more particularly to the drawings I show at 10 a single track roadbed" having railway rails 11 of any usual or pro-.

.ment of direction pulleys 15.

v 'ferred form. Saidroadway is arranged in Be it known that I, CHARLEs HENRY; GOODPASTURE, a citizen of the United States, 1 and a resident of Olympia, in the county of a continuous series of blocks of any desired length, depending upon the number of trains Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 3, 1914., 1 Application filed ebruar 11, 191 Serial in. 818,042.

of the railway track and spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the length of two blocks. Said signal devices are shown herein as comprising arotary disk 12 journaled in'a casing 13 and adapted to rotate suiiiclently far to show white or red according to the safeor danger condition of the track. A flexible connection 14 in the nae ture of a steel cable or the likeextends from one si nal a to the other, said cable being guided over any suitable number or arrange- Associated wit-lithe axle 16 of each signal disk is adrum i 17 over-which is extended the free end of the cable 14, said free end carrying-a counterweight 18. The signal devices are substan-'.

tially alike and hence a specific description and illustration of one will suiiice forany number. At anysuitablepoint in the cable 1 4 Iprovide a turnbuckle 19 whereby variations in length may be compensated for in a j l convenient manne An obstacle 20 of upright arrangement is mounted adjacent each signal station and is connected to the cable 14, and through the manipulation of said cable byanysuitable means from thepassing trainthe obstacle 20 is .drawn toward the adjacent rail 11, as shown in full anddotted lines in Fig. 2, whereby, when the signalis set-at danger the ob'stacle20 will be closeeno-ugh to ,therailway track to be in position to engage and trip any suitable formof airvalve 21 carried on the right hand side of a locomotive, preferably'cl'ose to the pilot.

- As a" convenient and reliable means for manipulating the cable 14 so as to set. the

' signals and obstacles to danger positions'by i a passing train, I provide alongside of each rail'an auxiliary or depressible rail or bar '22 adapted to be engaged and depressed by the first wheel of a train reaching a block to which said bar pertains,and said bar will be held depressed solong as any part of the train is withinthe two blocks along which each of saidbarsextends, In other words, the bar 22 extends from the signal station a atthe approach of block A to the signal a adjacent the end of block B. When, therefore, a train enters block A the depression of the bar 22 on the right hand sidethereof train enters block B the pair of signals I) will be set at danger by reason of the depression of the bar 22 by a wheel on the left hand side of the train, the operation of the signals by the train being continued in the manner above'set forth throughout the system. When the train enters block C the first depressible bar 22 the two signals a will be restored to normal or safety position by. means of the counterweights 18, at the ends of the flexible con nection 1d. The signals 0 willbe set and will remain in danger position until after the train has passed block D.

The means which I prefer to employ to cause the effective length of the cable'l-i to be shortened byaction of the train comprises sets of pulleys 23 and 2.4: distributed in groups} along the railway track at any desired distance apart. The pulleys 23 are arranged in pairs'andsupport the cable 1 t whether the cable is being acted upon or not by the depressible bar. The pulleys 2.4 are'journaled upon the lower edges of the bars 22 and each of them acts between the two pulleys 23 of each pair, causing the cable 14 to be deflected or looped, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Such loop ing or bending of the cable 14 is suflicient to actuate the signal disks for the purposes above set forth andto set the obstacles into tripping position.

From what has been stated above it will be understood that the obstacle 20 on the right hand side of the track which is set into tripping position by a train will move into such position just after the valve 21 carried on or adjacent the engine'pilot will have passed it. The obstacle 20 at the other end of the same cable 14 being on the opposite side of the track will have no influence he first menupon the train in question. tloned obstacle, however, will be 1n position to stop an on-coming train should the e11 gineer thereof disregard the signal intended for him to see. The obstacle 20, however, at the forward end of thecable 14L will be will be released and The modification of Fig. 4 shows the rail 3 11 made in a'peculiar manner so as to include the COllStlLlCtlOIl of the guard plate 25. For this purpose the ra1l1s made with a cavity inwhich the bar 22 and the pulleys i 23 and 24 operate.

Having thus described my inventlon, I claim as new and'desire to secure by Let- 'ters Patent 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a railway track, of a pair of signals on'opposite sides thereofand one being-arranged in advance of the other, a cable extending along the track from one signal to the other, tension means applied to the ends of the cable serving to maintain the cable taut and the signals associated therewith in normal safety position, and

means actuated by a passing train to bend the cable between the signals to shorten its effective length for the purpose of setting the'signals at dangerposition against the tensionof said tension means. a

2. In a device'of the character set forth, the combination of a railway track having a pair of rails, of a pair of signal devices-arranged on opposite sides of the track and onein advance of the other, a cable extending from one signal to 'the'other along the track, tension means applied to the ends of the cable serving to keep the cable taut and '1 thesignals in normal safety position, a pair of obstacles connected to the, cable adjacent the several signals along the outside of the several rails, and means actuated passing train'between the signals serving to set the signals a't danger position and to move j 1 the obstacles toward the ralls against toe tension ofsaid tension means, substantially as set forth.-

name to this specification in the of two subscribing witnesses. I

' CHARLES HENRY GOQDPASTURE.

presence Witnesses J. B. CUTTER, I CHARLES Drnns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C.

} *In testimony whereof l have signed my 1 

